An Iowa crop and livestock forum titled “Farming Matters” gets underway this (Tuesday) morning at nine at the Amana Colonies. Aaron Putze, director of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, says it’s aimed at any producers who want to expand their crop or livestock operations. He says it’ll provide the tools, resources, and information they need to see that their growth is done both responsibly and successfully.
Putze says a lot of farmers are looking to add some diversity to the products they’re already producing. Many crop farmers are looking at adding livestock, Putze says, to cut their fertilizer costs. Using “animal nutrients,” or manure, can cut their fertilizer costs by 40 to 50-percent, he says.
With Iowa’s leadership in producing renewable energy, he says more farmers are looking at dairies and feedlots where they can feed animals the dried grain byproducts, like distiller’s grain, from ethanol production. Expert speakers will look at financial opportunities, lending and business advice, and ways of enhancing farmers’ relationships with their neighbors. The forum continues through four P.M. today at the Amana Colonies Holiday Inn.